The 10 Best Pilot Watches for Under $500

If you love aviation, you already know the importance of having a good watch. As a matter of fact, having a watch you can count on is imperative if you’re a pilot. The thing is, it isn’t always easy to find those good watches for pilots without paying a bundle. Not everyone can afford to pay $500 or more for a watch, especially when they’ve invested most of their money inflight training or upkeep on the aircraft. If you’re looking for a solid pilot watch that’s less than $500, you might want to check out the list of these 10 watches below.

1. Garmin D2 Bravo Multisport GPS Pilot Watch

This is easily one of the more unique watches available on the market. It’s not cheap, and it comes in at just under $500, but it might well be worth the cost. Just as the name implies, it’s more than just a watch. It also provides pilots with accurate GPS coordinating, serving as a compass that can be worn on the wrist. This makes it a great option for anyone that flies a light aircraft with limited instrumentation, as well as for those that typically fly over water or rural areas that are largely undeveloped. As previously mentioned, the cost for this watch is about $499.

2. Seiko SSC007 Solar Aviation Chronograph Watch with Alarm

This is a smart looking watch with a stainless steel wristband and case and a black face. The white tick marks make it easy to see in virtually any type of light and you can set the watch to display the time in various parts of the world simultaneously. It also serves as a stopwatch and provides the date. This one will set you back $399.

3/ Leather Pilot Jackets Cockpit Hawker Hurricane Watch AV-4011-02

Just as the name implies, the wristband on this watch is made of leather and it’s accented by a stainless steel case and black face. Like most pilot watches, you can see the time in many different parts of the world simultaneously and it also displays the date. The cost for this watch is about $199.

4. WWII German Luftwaffe ME-109 Pilot Watch

If you have a flare for historical things and you want a watch that is more reminiscent of the ones worn by pilots during some of the greatest air battles in history, this one might be better suited to your liking. It features a leather watch and a dark face. It may not have all the bells and whistles of modern-day watches, but it’s a great option for history buffs. It also sells for about $70.

5. Jack Mason A102 Aviator Chronograph

This is a smart looking watch that’s all black with the exception of the stainless steel case and clasp. The tick marks and hands are white for ease of visibility and the watch is capable of displaying several different time zones at once as well as the date. It costs approximately $275.

6. Jack Mason A101 Aviator Watch

This is a watch that has a distinctly historic appearance. It’s probably due in large part to the tan leather wristband, but the end result is a modern watch that looks like it’s been around awhile, something that’s very popular in aviation circles. In order to purchase it, you’ll have to shell out about $100.

7. British RAF Aviator Watch

If you’re looking for something that actually has some history to it, you might choose a watch like this. This particular watch was actually made in 1960 and can be found in places where people sell collectibles. It features a stainless steel case along with an olive drab nylon wristband and a black face with white tick marks. There’s nothing fancy about it, but if you’re looking for a real piece of history, this is it. Surprisingly, you can find the watch for as little as $20 even though it’s considered a collectible.

8. Invicta Men’s 45mm Aviator Watch

The watch features a dark leather wristband, a stainless steel case and clasp, and a black face with white tick marks. This is a popular design for pilot watches and this one is no exception. It’s available for sale for about $60.

9. Seiko Flightmaster Pilot Slide Rule Chronograph Watch

If you want a watch that can also serve as a flight computer, you might choose to go with this product. In addition, it’s stunning as far as looks are concerned, offering a robust stainless steel wristband and case, along with a black face. It’s easy to see even in the dark and it also displays the date. You can buy it for around $125.

10. Invicta Men’s 48mm Aviator Watch

Much like 45mm version that was discussed earlier, this watch provides most of the things that you look for in a pilot watch. It’s much larger than most of the other watches on this list and it’s all black. The tick marks on the face are red and white and you can read the time across multiple time zones as well as the date. The cost for the watch is about $120.

About The Author

Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Smith is one of the managing editors of Moneyinc. He has a strong interest in sports, video games and acting his age (speaking of which he's not even in college yet) but we love him over here because he's attentive, detailed, and knows how to make an article look great.